INVITATION

As a leading trade nation, Canada has a wealth of expertise to offer developing countries, and the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development’s (DFATD) development assistance program provides a platform for making this expertise available to these countries. In this regard, DFATD is seeking to retain the services of a Consultant to implement the Expert Deployment Mechanism for Trade and Investment (EDM), which is a major component of the Canadian Trade and Development Facility (CTDF).

The overall purpose of the CTDF is to provide timely assistance to developing countries or groups of developing countries with which Canada is, or will be, negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) or Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA), or those which have signed, but not yet fully adapted to the agreement(s). Overall, the CDTF is designed to maximize sustainable poverty reduction and economic growth benefits that flow from expanded trade and investment to all citizens, especially the most marginalized. The Expert Deployment Mechanism (EDM) – hereinafter referred to as “the project” will identify and address priority capacity building and policy reform issues that have the high potential to reduce poverty, reduce gender inequalities and support progress in FTA / FIPA negotiations and their subsequent implementation. The EDM will deploy a wide range of technical assistance and capacity building support prior to, during and following the conclusion of formal FTA / FIPA negotiations. Developing partner country counterparts, including government and non-government actors as well as private sector interests, will be able to request EDM assistance through DFATD officials or the selected Consultant.

The purpose of this notice is to invite formal costed proposals from eligible Consultants. On the basis of the formal proposals, one Consultant will be invited to negotiate a contract for the provision of services. DFATD reserves the right to refuse any or all proposals received. The amount allocated to this contract will not exceed sixteen million five hundred twenty-five thousand Canadian dollars (CAN$16,525,000) excluding applicable taxes. The anticipated contract duration is seven (7) years.

WORKING LANGUAGE OF THE PROJECT

Since the recipient country requests communications with DFATD in English, the working language for this project is English.

DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

The Consultant will be responsible for developing country-level pro-poor gender-responsive trade and development strategies that will identify areas where technical assistance activities have the greatest potential to meet the dual objectives of reducing poverty (including through the addressing of gender inequalities) and advancing Canada’s trade and investment negotiations with developing countries. Based on these strategies, the Consultant will develop results-oriented mandates at DFATD’s request that support partner countries to prepare for negotiations with Canada or to implement and adapt to agreements that have been concluded. The Consultant will then fulfill these mandates by sourcing, contracting and deploying appropriate technical expertise to partner countries, including the full management of experts’ contractual arrangements, logistics and performance management.

BIDDERS CONFERENCE

A bidders conference will be held on January 27, 2016 at 200 Promenade du Portage.

CONSULTANT PROFILE

To meet the requirement of the assignment, DFATD is seeking to retain the services of a Consultant with a set of demonstrated and verifiable capabilities. DFATD is seeking a Consultant with experience in i) managing and implementing international development projects focussed on responsive programming; ii) managing extensive networks of expert resources; and iii) effectively integrating results-based management principles and DFATD crosscutting themes of gender equality, environmental sustainability, governance and human rights.

INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS

Proposals should be presented following the instructions provided in the Request for Proposal document to be obtained through the GETS on the Internet (https://buyandsell.gc.ca/). Please note, DFATD does not send out RFPs directly to interested Consultants.

In order to be considered, proposals must be completed and received no later than 14:00 hrs, Eastern Daylight Saving Time (EDT), on closing date, at the following address:

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development

Distribution and Mail Services – AAG

Lester B. Pearson Building

125 Sussex Drive

Ottawa, Ontario

Canada

K1A 0G2

Attention: Bid Receiving Unit - SGD

PROPOSALS SUBMITTED VIA FACSIMILE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

INQUIRIES

Questions relating to this notice must be directed IN WRITING to:

Linda Ouellet

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development

Distribution and Mail Services – AAG

Lester B. Pearson Building

125 Sussex Drive

Ottawa, Ontario

Canada

K1A 0G2

Fax: 819-953-9186

E-mail: Linda.Ouellet@international.gc.ca